Janese Leatherbury, LCSW

Empowerment is at the heart of my practice. I believe in empowering individuals to take an active role in their mental health, fostering resilience, and embracing positive change. Together, we can work towards achieving your goals and unlocking the potential for growth and healing. Life's journey is a complex tapestry, and my role is to help you navigate through its twists and turns, providing support, insight, and empowerment along the way. As we journey through life, we will inevitably face many challenges and periods of growth or set-back. Whether navigating challenging emotions, life transitions, career or relationship difficulties, or confronting unresolved trauma, these experiences may result in mental health symptoms. Challenges with mental health can manifest as a sense of being trapped in an unfulfilling life, difficulty releasing painful aspects of the past, or feeling weighed down by life's demands. A common outcome of experiences of trauma, depression, and anxiety is the emergence of negative thoughts and a distorted perception of self. A prominent goal of therapy is to empower my clients in rewriting the narratives they construct about themselves. This involves not only reframing the stories that no longer serve them but also challenging and discarding thoughts that perpetuate adversity and trauma in their lives. Moreover, when clients grapple with internal challenges or emotional turmoil, it often reflects in strained relationships or difficulty forming positive connections with others. A central objective of therapy is to assist clients in not only navigating these internal struggles but also in establishing and asserting healthy boundaries. This involves dismantling unhelpful strategies or patterns, fostering conflict resolution skills, building trust and connectivity in healthy relationships, and empowering clients to establish more assertive boundaries. The ultimate aim is to cultivate a sense of positive connectivity and support in their lives.

I am committed to establishing a secure and non-judgmental environment where clients can delve into the intricacies of their lives, navigating the challenges through mindful introspection, trauma-informed counsel, and empathetic reflection. My aim is to offer support as clients rediscover their sense of balance, well-being, empowerment, and purposeful direction.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Washington and the state of Idaho and hold a Master's degree in Social Work from Portland State University. I bring extensive experience addressing a diverse array of clinical concerns and specialize in providing support for individuals facing challenges such as anxiety, depression, complex traumas, and navigating stressful life events or transitions. Grounded in the principles of Trauma-Informed Care, I integrate evidence-based practices, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Approaches. In my practice, I hold a fundamental belief in the uniqueness of each individual and their challenges. As such, I prioritize collaboration, working closely with clients to tailor therapeutic strategies that specifically meet their distinctive needs.